EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings announced the release of cornerback Jacob Lacey on Monday.

Lacey, 26, signed to the Vikings in late April and missed mandatory minicamp in June with a dislocated thumb and was out most of training camp with knee problems, ultimately having surgery on Aug. 12.

Coach Leslie Frazier said Lacey would be out 2-4 weeks, sidelining him for the rest of the preseason.

The roster move adds emphasis to cornerbacks Marcus Sherels and Bobby Felder, who had been filling in for Lacey as the backup nickel cornerback and will now battle for the spot fulltime.

Lacey went undrafted in 2009 out of Oklahoma State, but made the Indianapolis Colts roster that season and appeared in every game. He joined the Detroit Lions last season, but was placed on injured reserve after dislocating his knee in Week 15.